Explore Bonaire: Its History, Culture, and Environment

Bonaire is an island located in the Southern Caribbean region north of Venezuela, South America. This web quest will introduce you to this region and to the island of Bonaire. You will learn about Bonaire’s history, culture, and environment. Later, you will use information from this web quest to compare and contrast our history, culture, and environment with Bonaire’s.

Begin your web quest by logging on to the Bonaire website: http://www.infobonaire.com/index.html

Read the information published under the heading, “Bon Bini! Welcome to the Official Bonaire Web Site!” As you read through this section, complete the following inquiries about Bonaire:

1. Use the Map link to locate Bonaire on the map below. Once you have located the island of Bonaire, circle the location on the map.

2. The third paragraph refers to several slogans that have been written to describe Bonaire. Select one of these slogans and describe what you think is meant by the phrase.                                                                                                                 

3. Paragraph four discusses a variety of reasons why people visit Bonaire. What percentage of people are repeat visitors to Bonaire?                                                      

4. Construct a paragraph summarizing four of the reasons why people return to Bonaire:

5. As you continue reading, locate the Weather Box and record today’s weather information in the table below. You will need to return to this page on your next 2 virtual visits to Bonaire so that you can complete the table and your summary statement.

After recording 3 days of data, create a line graph. Plot both sets of temperature data on the graph below and correlate the temperature to the dates they were recorded. Include a legend for “Water Temperature” and “Air Temperature.”

HINTS: Y-axis: ° F and ° C; Axis interval = 10°

              X-axis: Date Recorded

When you have completed your data table and graph, compare the data you collected this week to the averages published on the Bonaire web site. To find the Bonaire average temperatures, locate and select the Climate link in paragraph 4 of the homepage. Construct a paragraph summarizing your comparison of the water temperature data you recorded this week and the averages for Bonaire during this time of year.

Scroll to the bottom of this webpage to locate and select the Bonaire Web Cam link. Explore the various reef and beach links to get a few views of Bonaire life and its environment. Once you have finished viewing the web cams, close this window, return to the Bonaire Homepage, and continue your web quest.

6. Locate and select the Activities link in the 11^th paragraph of the homepage or in the left margin of the homepage. Use the drop-down menu bar to review the variety of activities included in the web site. How many activities provided in Bonaire are also provided in Carteret County?                                                         

7. Construct a paragraph describing 4 of the activities you have participated in or activities that you would be interested in participating in or watching.

8. Bonaire also shares a few holidays with our country. Locate and select the Calendar link in the left margin of the Bonaire homepage. Review the calendar and locate 3 or more holidays that Bonaire and the United States both recognize. Organize your comparisons in the table below:

9. According to the Bonaire Calendar of Events, who will be arriving at the Town Pier in November? (Circle one)
   1. Easter Bunny
   2. Santa Claus
   3. Tooth Fairy
   4. Thanksgiving Turkey

Locate and select the Culture link in the left margin. As you read through the Bonaire culture information on this page, complete the following:

10.  How many residents live in Bonaire?                                       

11.  Identify some of the musical and dance influences that have shaped the Bonaire culture. Include a variety of the styles of music and dance discussed on the webpage.                                                                                                               

The original language of Bonaire is Papiamentu. Several theories about the origin of this language are discussed in the first and second paragraphs on the Papiamentu Language webpage. Locate and select the Papiamentu  link at the bottom of the Culture webpage and read about these theories. Once you have read the first 2 paragraphs, answer the questions below.

12.  Which of the following influences are associated with the origin of the Papiamentu language?
    1. Early Spanish settlers
    2. Slave trading
    3. Dutch
    4. English
    5. All of the above

13.  Scroll to the bottom of this page and locate the sample of Papiamentu words and phrases with their English translation. Write a short conversation using the Papiamemtu language.

14. Translate your conversation in question 13 to English and record your translation below:

Practice using your new language skills this week by sharing and teaching words and phrases with others.

15.  Try to translate the Bonaire phrase printed under the Papiamentu words and phrases on this webpage: Nos ta warda bo na Boneiru!

Record your translation here:

16.  Locate and select the Economy link in the upper left margin of this page. This link will open the DEZA (Department of Economic and Labor Affairs) page. Bonaire’s economy is developed around 2 major areas of focus. Look at the four photos at the top of this webpage and identify these 2 areas based on the choices listed below: (circle 2 choices)
    1. Salt mining
    2. Coal mining
    3. Paper making
    4. Recreational Tourism

Locate and select the General Info about Bonaire link found in the left margin of the DEZA homepage. Read through this information and answer the following:

17.  How large is the island of Bonaire (in square miles)?                                        
18.  What is the town capital of Bonaire?                                                               
19.  When was Bonaire discovered?                                    By whom?                              

20.  Describe the origin of Bonaire’s name.                                                                        

Locate and select the Info Bonaire link at the end of this section and return to the Bonaire homepage. Select the History link to learn more about Bonaire’s past.

21.  Identify who the original inhabitants of Bonaire were and describe where they traveled from to reach Bonaire and the mode of transportation they used for travel.                                                                                                                         

22.  Use the information from this webpage to complete the timeline below. Correlate the dates on the timeline with the events discussed in the article.

23.  How does Bonaire’s history correlate (or compare) with the history of the United States? (Include a minimum of 3 comparisons in your response.)

24.  Countries design their flag using symbolisms of their beliefs, history, culture, and geography. Read the section subtitled, Flag Information on this website and respond to the following prompt:

How is Bonaire’s past and present symbolized in their flag? Be sure to include the following in your interpretation:

·        Bonaire’s “motherland,” the Netherlands

·        Bonaire’s environment

·        Bonaire’s history

25.  Locate and select the Island News link from the left margin of this page. Locate the list of media outlets available for Bonaire. What 3 different languages are published through these various outlets?                                                                  

26.  Select the Daily Herald link and read one of the articles published today. Record a summary for the article you selected in the space below:

Title of the article:                                                                                                        

Article Summary:                                                                                                         

27.  Use the BACK button on your web browser to return to the Island News page. Locate and select the Local Information link to learn more about the technology available in Bonaire. Select the Technology link found in paragraph 2 and identify the types of technology available in Bonaire. (Circle all that apply)
    1. Cable Television
    2. Internet Service
    3. Telephone
    4. Radio Stations

 Now that you have explored the history, culture, and environment of Bonaire, compare and contrast your knowledge of Bonaire with your knowledge of the United States or North Carolina. Write your response on a separate piece of paper and be sure to include a minimum of 3 comparisons in your response. Once you have edited your rough draft, open Microsoft Word and type your final draft. We will discuss your summary when we return to the classroom.

Once you have completed your Microsoft Word document, you may continue to explore the Bonaire web site to learn more about the topics that interest you the most.

Type in Bonaire’s homepage: (http://www.geographia.com/bonaire/) and begin your virtual diving adventure in one of the most beautiful diving areas in the world.

Bonaire is known for its shore diving. Shore diving means that SCUBA divers and swimmers with snorkels can put on their diving gear and swim out from the shores of Bonaire to reach many of the pristine reefs. While many dive operations provide boats that can be used to transport divers to other reef zones, boats are not required for divers to enjoy this underwater wonderland.

We’ll begin our virtual diving with a review of the diving rules pre-set by the Bonaire government. Next, we locate various dive sites using the map of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. As you read through the information on this page, respond to the following:

1 - What is the average water temperature around the island of Bonaire?                                  

2 – What factors contribute to the clarity of the water in Bonaire?                                             

3 - Label the diagram below according to the reef profile provided on this page:

1. Elkhorn Zone
2. Terrace with coral and sand
3. Reef crest
4. Reef Drop-off (What is the depth range of the drop-off?                                    )

4 – Select one of these species, follow its link, and describe something unusual about this species: Elkhorn coral, Angel fish, Sponges, Seahorses, Frogfish.

Bonaire’s Rules of Diving:

A variety of actions are prohibited, or not allowed, while diving in Bonaire. Read through the list and see how many actions you can find that are prohibited. List them below:

Locate and select the Bonaire’s Battery Pack Back Program link near the History section of this page. Why does the Bonaire Tourist Board request visitors to pack their dead batteries back with them when they leave Bonaire?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Return to the Dive/Snorkeling web page. Locate and select the Dive Sites link found near the top of the page. Use the map as a reference to help you locate various dive sites during this activity.

Review the map to determine the number of dive sites available on the main island of Bonaire and its smaller island, Klein Bonaire.

1. How many dive sites are available around the island of Bonaire?                                   
2. How many dive sites are available around the island of Klein Bonaire?              

Use the listing of dive sites at the bottom of this page to complete the table below. Select the following when completing your table. An example has been provided to assist you in completing your “dive table.”

1. 3 Dive sites on Klein Bonaire

1.      #         

2.      #         

3.      #         

2. 6 Shore dives on Bonaire

1.      #                     4. #                 

2.      #                     5. #                 

3.      #                     6. #                 

When you have completed your table, circle the location of your dive sites on the map found above.